NEW SINGLES CHART

'Historic' singles chart welcomed.

Damon Albarn's Gorillaz entered the revamped chart at 22. The Official UK Charts Company says it is "pleased" with the first singles chart to include legal downloads.But a spokesman said there would be "a certain amount of fluidity" in chart rules in the weeks and months ahead.
The inclusion of digital sales has almost doubled the singles market, with 383,000 downloads sold last week compared with 393,000 physical singles.
The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has welcomed the chart as "an historic day for the UK music industry". "The addition of downloads to the singles chart doubles the market at a stroke," said BPI chairman Peter Jamieson. "By bringing new people back into the singles market, the addition of downloads by definition makes it more representative."
However, the Association of Independent Music (AIM) said independent labels and artists have suffered under the new system.